Collapsible catamaran



Feb. 14, 1967 v, BACHLEY 3,303,520

COLLAPS I BLE CATAMARAN Filed March 17, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l v4 8/ iii jisc INVENTOR Peter V. BACHLEY ATTORNEY Feb. 14, 1967 P. v. BACHLEY 3,303,520

COLLAPSIBLE CATAMARAN Filed March 17. 1965 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet z y/m J? VXM/m v/m/ INVENTOR Peter V. BACHLEY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,303,520 COLLAPSIBLE CATAMARAN Peter V. Bachley, 4131 Cote des Neiges Road, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Mar. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 440,542 4 Claims. (Cl. 9-1) The present invention relates to the construction of small boats and, more particularly to an improved construction of a catamaran type boat which is capable of being collapsed into a self contained trailer which can be readily towed to any desired location.

With the present popularity of boating in general there is a considerable demand for and a considerable variety of boats of all types available, that meet the requirement that they be sufficiently small in size, or collapsible in some way, that they can be readily transported to the lakes or streams on or towed behind the family car.

While, as noted above there are available a number of boat constructions which generally meet these requirements, there are still problems in that in order to make them readily portable the size of some has been reduced to a point where they are not as stable as they might be and with few if any exceptions they can only be used safely by one or two people. Most certainly they cannot safely accommodate a family or group of four or five people. Further, it is not possible to dive or swim from such craft since as noted above they do not have the necessary stability. There are, of course, available relatively larger conventional type craft which can be mounted on complete trailers made specially for the purpose but these combinations are in general too heavy .to handle without special equipment and further are not Within the price range appealing to the average week-end sportsman.

The present invention recognizes these and other problems and as a solution aims to provide a relatively inexpensive, light, easily handled, collapsible boat construction of the catamaran type which by reason of its construction provides a stable craft with sufiicient deck space to safely accommodate several people and further can be easily manipulated into a compact boat-trailer unit which can easily be towed behind the average car.

More specifically, the present construction utilizes twin catamaran type hulls or pontoons which are foldably connected to a relatively spacious supporting deck in such a manner that the craft can be made ready for use in the water from its compact transporting condition in a matter of minutes, without special tools or other equipment. In the preferred form, the wheels for the combined boattrailer unit are permanently attached to the catamaran pontoons so that the mere folding or unfolding of the pontoons relative to the supporting deck places the wheels into or out of boat supporting condition.

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, particular reference will be made to the accompanying drawings showing by way of illustration preferred embodiments thereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in top plan of the twin-hulled boat construction of the invention as it would appear in water operative condition;

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of the boat construction of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the construction of FIGURE 1 as seen along the line 33;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a front portion of the construction of FIGURE 1 as seen along the line 4-4;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of a rear portion of the construction of FIGURE 1 as seen along the line 5-5;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the construction 3,303,520 Patented Feb. 14, 1967 of FIGURE 1 along a hinge connection between the deck and one pontoon or hull, along the lines 66;

FIGURE 7 is a detail view in cross section and along the line 7--7 of FIGURE 13 to show in more detail the attachment of the reinforcing angle when the boat is in transporting condition;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the construction of FIGURE 1 as seen along the line 8-8 to illustrate in more detail the construction of the bracing angle along the hinge line between the deck and pontoon.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of the construction of FIGURE 1 as seen along the line 99 to illustrate in more detail the hinge arrangement between the deck and side board and the connection between the side board and front board connecting angle;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 9 along the line 1010 to illustrate the corner attachment and bracing in more detail;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged detail view partially in section of FIGURE 1 along the line 1111 to show the upper portion of a wheel carrying section of one pontoon to illustrate the construction more clearly;

FIGURE 12 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the construction of FIGURE 1 showing one wheel assembly in transport position and one in floating condition to illustrate the relative movement to accomplish these positions;

FIGURE 13 is an end view showing the boat construction of FIGURE 1 as it would appear in collapsed condition ready for transport;

FIGURE 14 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in top perspective elevation showing the assembly of the invention as it would appear attached to a car ready for transport.

With particular reference to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the preferred construction of a collapsible catamaran-type boat illustrated consists basically of a pair of pontoons or supporting hulls 10 which are mounted in spaced apart relationship to a supporting deck 12 having side boards 14 and stern 16 and front boards 18 forming an enclosure or bulwark about the periphery of the deck.

Each pontoon 10 is made as having a main Watertight body 20 with a flat top cover plate 22. In the preferred form, the pontoon bodies 20 are molded or otherwise formed from suitable plastic material to give maximum strength with minimum weight. It will be noted that a pair of carry wheel assemblies 30 are attached directly to the pontoons 10 and each pontoon 10 is provided with a heavier reinforcing plate 32 adjacent the stern end to provide extra strength for the wheel attachment.

Each wheel assembly 30 consists of a support bracket or wheel mount 31, a wheel 33 journalled in the wheel mount and a supporting brace 35 which extends from the wheel mount 31 to an attachment with the reinforcing plate 32. As shown in FIGURE 11, for maximum strength and rigidity, the wheel mount 31 is bolted to the plate 32 and also through the plate 32, and the top cover 22 and flange of the pontoon 20.

To make possible the folding of the pontoons 10, relative to the deck 12, yet maintain the desired rigid connection between pontoon and deck, there are a plurality of hinge connections 40 therebetween, as shown most clearly in FIGURES 1 and 6. There are five (5) hinges 40 extending between deck 12 and each pontoon 10 and these extend from the top cover 22 of the pontoon to the upper surface 11 of the deck. To make the overall hinge joint more rigid and to add necessary support to the underside of the deck 12, a plurality of supporting angles 50 are provided in spaced relationship between the spaced hinges 40. Each angle 50 is securely bolted to the respective pontoon top cover 22 and includes an inwardly extending flange 51 which fits against and supports the longitudinal edge of the deck 12 when the craft is in floating condition, see FIGURE 6.

As will be obvious with reference to the accompanying drawings, in order that the pontoons 10 may be readily folded into wheel supported position under the deck 12 it is necessary that the side, front and stern boards surrounding the deck be readily collapsible or removable. For this purpose in the preferred construction illustrated, the side boards 14 are hingedly connected to the pontoon top cover plates 22 and the front 18 and stern boards 16 are removably connected to the ends of the side boards 14 and to transverse bracing angular plates 19 extending across the deck 12 at each end. More specifically and with reference to FIGURE 9 for example, each side board 14 is attached by a plurality of five hinges 60 to the outer flange 25 of each cover plate 22 beneath the pontoon flange and cover plate so that it is capable of swinging from an upright or substantially 90 angle above the top plate 22 anddeck 12 to a folded position, see FIG- URE 12, alongside of the body of the pontoon in collapsed carrying position.

The front 18 and stem boards 16, of course, must be removable and for this purpose both are provided at each upper corner with angle brackets 70 against which the side boards 14 abut and are connected thereto with suitable bolts and wing nuts 72. The lower edges of the front and stern boards 18, 16 are each provided with attachment angles 73, 74 which have outwardly extending flanges 75, 76 which slidably fit under the stepped transverse bracing plates 19 which extend across the deck 12 along its front and stem marginal edges, see FIGURES 4 and 5.

With specific reference to FIGURES l and 5, for example, it is to be noted that since the stern board 16, which is to support a motor, is mounted at an angle relative to the deck 12 and for this purpose the attachment angle 74 is shaped so as to have an open angle between its portion attached to the stern board and the flange 76 which slidably fits under the stepped portion of the plate 19. In the preferred construction shown the transverse stepped plates 19 are secured to the deck 12 with suitable bolts and nuts and the front and stern board angles 73, 74 are secured by bolts 80 passing both angles and wing nuts 81. The top central portion of the stern board 16 adapted to receive a motor clamp is suitably reinforced as indicated at 90 and all upper edges of the side and front boardsare provided'with suitable coaming members 92.

In the construction shown the front board 18 includes a socket bracket 94 adapted to receive mast 96 if a sail is to be utilized with a corresponding opening being provided in the front board coaming 92. It should also be noted that the attachment angles 73, 74 of the front and stem boards are of sufficient length to extend beyond the stepped plates 19 at each end. The plates 19, for the folding action, must necessarily be only as wide as the deck 12, the protruding ends of the angles 73, 74 bridging the gap between pontoon and deck, provide extra reinforcing against possible folding between pontoons and deck when the craft is in sailing condition. 'As shown in FIGURE 1 in broken lines a suitable trailer hitch 100 can be secured to the under portion of the deck 12. Since this may vary with individual requirements and does not form part of the boat construction proper, it is not shown elsewhere or in detail.

Assuming that the craft is in completely assembled sailing condition, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and it is desired to place it in collapsed transport condition, as shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, the first step is to loosen and remove the front and stem boards 18, 16; the side boards 14 are now free to swing down against the pontoon bodies 20, and each pontoon and wheel assembly 30 is now swung under the deck 12 at each side, as shown in FIGURE 12; when both pontoons are in carrying position, a tie bar 105 is preferably secured across the back ends and fastened by bolts and wing nuts, as shown in FIGURE 13, and the front 18 and stern boards 16 are stored between the folded side boards 14; the entire boat assembly is now in towing condition as shown in FIGURE 14. The reverse procedure is followed when the boat is again to be made ready for the water.

I claim:

1. A collapsible catamaran comprising in combination a first deck having parallel side edges; a pair of elongated pontoons each having a second deck and a hull portiort on one side and co-extensive with said second deck, said pairs of pontoons being hingedly mounted one to each parallel side edge of the first deck for rotational movement, about a longitudinal axis, taken along the side edges of said first deck respectively, between a first floating position, wherein each second deck is in the same plane as the first deck and provides an added deck area with the first deck, and a second transport position from said first floating position wherein each second deck is folded over onto said first deck; a wheel mounting bracket mounted on each second deck at one end thereof and on the side opposite said hull said mounting bracket supporting a wheel spaced from said deck, and adapted to rotate in the longitudinal direction; the first deck having a longitudinal end edge spaced from the longitudinal end of the second deck, carrying the wheel bracket, a distance substantially clear of said wheel bracket, whereby said wheel will be in a downwardly extending transport posi tion when said second deck is folded over onto said first deck; the second deck also including a support bracket along the edge adjacent the side edge of said first deck adapted to engage the underside of said first deck in a load supporting manner when said pontoons are in a first floating position.

2. A collapsible catamaran as defined in claim 1,.

wherein a bulwark is provided on said catamaran com-' prising side walls pivoted about a longitudinal axis, along the side of each second deck remote from the first deck, between a first upright positional normal to the second deck when the pontoons are in a floating position and a second collapsed position adjacent the hull; bow and stern walls detachably mounted along the front and rear edges of the first deck, and extending throughout the lateral ex tent of the first and second decks and being detachably connected to the side walls.

3. A collapsible catamaran as defined in claim 1, wherein the support bracket along the edge of the second deck is an angle having a flange which fits against and supports the longitudinal side edge of the first deck when the pontoons are in a floating position.

4. A collapsible catamaran as defined in claim 2, wherein the bow and stern walls of said bulwark include angles co-extensive with the bottom edge thereof and having a flange extending inwardly relative to the bul= wark; the front and rear edges of said first deck including angles each having a stepped flange adapted to mate with the inwardly extending flanges of the angles of said bow and stem walls, and securing means for securing said flanges in 'a mating position; the angle on said bow and stern walls when the catamaran is being used in a floating position normally bearing upwardly on said stepped flange of the angles on said first deck and bearing downwardly on the surface of said second deck thereby locking said pontoons in a floating position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,588,084 3/1952 Bushfield 9-l 3,079,616 3/1963 Byberg 9-1 3,133,293 5/1964 Brush 9-] 3,193,851 7/1965 Fiebelkorn 9--l MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE CATAMARAN COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A FIRST DECK HAVING PARALLEL SIDE EDGES; A PAIR OF ELONGATED PONTOONS EACH HAVING A SECOND DECK AND A HULL PORTION ON ONE SIDE AND CO-EXTENSIVE WITH SAID SECOND DECK, SAID PAIRS OF PONTOONS BEING HINGEDLY MOUNTED ONE TO EACH PARALLEL SIDE EDGE OF THE FIRST DECK FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT, ABOUT A LONGITUDINAL AXIS, TAKEN ALONG THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID FIRST DECK RESPECTIVELY, BETWEEN A FIRST FLOATING POSITION, WHEREIN EACH SECOND DECK IS IN THE SAME PLANE AS THE FIRST DECK AND PROVIDES AN ADDED DECK AREA WITH THE FIRST DECK, AND A SECOND TRANSPORT POSITION 180* FROM SAID FIRST FLOATING POSITION WHEREIN EACH SECOND DECK IS FOLDED OVER ONTO SAID FIRST DECK; A WHEEL MOUNTING BRACKET MOUNTED ON EACH SECOND DECK AT ONE END THEREOF AND ON THE SIDE OPPOSITE SAID HULL SAID MOUNTING BRACKET SUPPORTING A WHEEL SPACED FROM SAID DECK, AND ADAPTED TO ROTATE IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION; THE FIRST DECK HAVING A LONGITUDINAL END EDGE SPACED FROM THE LONGITUDINAL END OF THE SECOND DECK, CARRYING THE WHEEL BRACKET, A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY CLEAR OF SAID WHEEL BRACKET, WHEREBY SAID WHEEL WILL BE IN A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING TRANSPORT POSITION WHEN SAID SECOND DECK IS FOLDED OVER ONTO SAID FIRST DECK; THE SECOND DECK ALSO INCLUDING A SUPPORT BRACKET ALONG THE EDGE ADJACENT THE SIDE EDGE OF SAID FIRST DECK ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID FIRST DECK IN A LOAD SUPPORTING MANNER WHEN SAID PONTOONS ARE IN A FIRST FLOATING POSITION. 